SUBA GIRANGO: THE LEOPARD PEOPLE

SUNA (Suba Girango)

The Leopard People

By

Steve Gaoria Maucha

Website: gaoria.wordpress.com
Email: smaucha@gmail.com

Content management and distribution by

Steve Gaoria
P.O. Box 1201 - 40400 Suna,
Migori, Kenya
Tel: +254 714 097 363
Email: smaucha@gmail.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or produced or utilized
in any form or any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author or authorized agent.

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SUBA GIRANGO: THE LEOPARD PEOPLE

Dedication
To my wife Rosemary Rhobi and my children Israel Kigera, Susan Boke, and my fellow
Abagirango who are free of ethnic and religion prejudice. In addition, I would like to thank the
following whose knowledge about the Girango people I found useful and indispensable in my
research and writing of this book:

Petro Muniko (Ogare)

Ayuka Magige (Pythagoras)
Kitenge Muhochi
Eliakim O.Marwa
Boke Masagati Nyabori (Gaoria)
Chacha Nyabori (Daniel Kigera)
Nyamohanga Makenge
Chacha Ngisese (Barabara)
Musa Makori
Sibi Obudho
Sila Wisaga
Cliopa Katikiro

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Suna Girango
The Suna abasuba are Bantu people whose origin is Girango and that is why they
are also known as Suna Girango, Abagirango or simply as Suba since majority of
Suna sub-tribes are descendants of Omusuba (Musuba). Suba or Musuba is the son
of Girango; his other brothers are believed to be Gire, Kiseru and Tegi. Girango
people believe they originated from a far place called Misri and they had to cross a
large water body before finally reaching their first settlement in Gasi (Gwasii) Got
Ramogi together with the descendants of the Omugussi and Omukuria(Tende) tribe
of Kuria.
Suna is the place, Suba Girango is the people and the language spoken is Kisuba,
Suba, egikurya and simbiti. Suna is a name Luos used to mock Girango people
living in Migori and was later adopted by the government to differentiate them
from the abasuba who live on islands and shores of Lake Victoria whose origins
can be traced back to Uganda.
Suna people are a unique and distinct Bantu people who travelled together with
other Bantu people from Misri including baganda, basoga, banyarwanda etc but got
separated around Mt. Elgon (Masaba). The term suba was used loosely the colonial
rulers to refer to a group of various smaller Bantu groups to facilitate
administration.
The story about crossing a lake or sea was a major event in the history of the suba
because many old men had to be carried by young men in order to cross the waters.

Ragwe

Siora

Montheya

Girango

Musuba

Separation
The first separation of the Abagirango took place in Gwassi with the Mogussi
moving to the Kisii highlands while Musuba and Mukuria moved towards river
Mara border into Tanganyika.
The Epic Journey to Suna (Busuba)
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Their stay of suba in Gwasii was not peaceful due to constant attacks and raids by
Luo people who were very powerful those days because of their weapons and
tactics. The Luo used shield and spears during battle so the arrows shot by Bantu
people could not hit their target.
In Gwasii abagirango were neighbors to kombe kombe people (para-nilotes) who
spoke language similar to Abagirango, therefore Luos considered them kin to
Kombe kombe and also attacked them forcing the Kombe kombe people to move
together with abagirango. Kombe kombe include Gasi, Singri, abatongorio, abaturi
etc
1. Abagirango (Simbete clan) then moved to Lambwe valley, then back to
Nyandiwa (Gwasii) and Simbi Nyaima.
2. Karungu near Tigira hill
3. West konyango
4. Gogo kanyamwa
5. Sibuoche Kanyamkago
6. River Migori (Before crossing the river, a Simbete prophet named Kiango
warned them to keep moving right (mgende mborio) after crossing River
Migori but, they did not heed his advice hence suffered severe
consequences; see the Maeta massacre. Prophet Kiango died before the
abagirango crossed the river.
7. Sagegi
8. Maeta in bukira
Battle and Deception in Bukira
When the abagirango were sojourning in a place called Sagegi in present day
bugumbe, they would occasional go for hunting deep into the woods surrounding
that area. On one such hunting expedition they heard some people playing reached
Maeta in bukira, they heard some people playing flutes and dancing near the
woods and when they went to find out and they met the Abakira who were living in
that area. Since Kisuba is very similar to egikurya especially bukira dialect, they
agreed to be neighbors saying we are brothers lets not fight one another.

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Suba people continued to have conflicts with Bakira and suba managed to defeat
Bakira on most battles because of the war tactics and weapons that they learned
from the Luo during their stay in Gwasii.
Suba used Kuot (a small shield handled by one hand) while the other hand held a
spear. Ingubha was a bigger version of kuot and many people can hide behind it
during battle. Both inguba and kuot were made from dried hide of an animal
especially hippo.
A suba warrior named Muguru Mwene became very famous for his bravery and
fighting skills that his name became synonymous with suba spears i.e.The spear
was nicknamed muguru mwene. It is believed that the spear Muguru Mwene used
to kill Bakira still exists to date at NYAMARAGA in SunaWasimbete. Nyamaraga
is the head quarters of the suba traditional council of elders (chama) (Nyikondo)
The muguru mwene spear is sometimes shown to exceptional youths on the eve of
circumcision ceremony especially the children of Nyikondo elders, prophets and
custodians of circumcision (Saro/Nyangi) ceremonies.
It is during this time that suba people started practicing circumcision because
Bakira used to mock them that they are children (abarisia). The first musuba to be
circumcised and the pioneer of the Saro in suba is known as Masese. Masese is the
brain child behind the norms, taboos, ceremonies and secrets about saro. Masese is
believed to be from the sub tribe of Simbete and Ngongo clan.
Deception and defeat
Since suba were mightier and brave that the Bakira, the Bakira offered an olive
branch to suba saying that they are brothers and should not fight amongst
themselves. Suba agreed to the peace deal since they were both Bantus and
therefore brothers.
Bakira continued to stock-pile weapons to revenge their defeat by the suba. They
mislead suba people to agree to a joint baraza of abasuba and Bakira, and since
they were now friends, the Bakira told suba to show up at the baraza without
weapons to build trust between them.
The Massacre

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Oral traditions indicate that on one fateful day suba men came to the baraza as
usual just with sticks and no proper weapons. Unknown to them, Bakira came
harmed with maasai swords and other deadly weapons nicely concealed under their
garments.
When the meeting was about to start, the Bakira chief made sure each armed
mukira sat next to a suba man. Their chief then ordered them to attack the suba
people who were caught off-guard and many suba people died that day because of
the deception of the bukira people.
Second separation of suba people
After the massacre at Maeta in bukira, suba people were scattered into the
neighboring communities some people like Nyatego went to Nyabasi, some
sweta, simbete and Wiga joined friendly kuria sub-tribes such as abagumbe and
abanchari as far as Mara region in Tanzania. Mase (Rieny/simbiti) and Ihacha sons
of simbete also moved to North Mara towards shirati
Suba people living in Suna are grouped under 4 main sub-tribes namely:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Wasweta
Wasimbete
Basoko/Nchage (Wiga, Wanje, etc)
Wategi, Tegi (son of Suba) Rumbazi/thegi/mtegaji
Wagire

Sweta (Wasweta)
Sweta is the largest sub tribe and includes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Katiga
Kadika
Wasaora
Bori
Wasari
Watare
Ramogi
Tanzania sweta (Mbogi, Rubunda, Nyanganoe) assimilated into Kuria

NCHAGE

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Wiga people include:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Wakwena
Nyasasi
Nyathocho
Kamsuru
Wanyara******

Simbete
Wasimbete is the second largest subtribe and include:
1. Kiberi
2. Mngororio (Ngongo)
3. Nyatego
4. Kembo
5. Nsuku
6. Nchogu
7. Makene
8. Rekia
9. Giransuku
10.Mese
11.Miaro
12.Odongo
13.Manwa
14.Kirundu
15.Nkena
16.Msige
17.Kembo
18.Mareke
Suba people in Tanzania
There are many suba people in Tanzania but, these groups appear to be splinter
groups from their main ancestors in Kenya. Because of the separation from their
brothers in Kenya, they have slightly different oral traditions from their counter
parts in Kenya. For instance, there are some people who call themselves
abamase, Irienyi, Sweta, Simbiti, Wiga but they are just splinter groups who
separated from their main groups in Suna Migori.

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Some of these Abasuba are now considered part of Kuria community in

Tanzania for example Sweta, Simbeti, Kiroba, Kabwa, Nguruimi, Surwa,
Hacha, Kine and Wiga.
However, it is important to note that the suba in Tanzania are the ones least
affected by luonization (assimilation by the Luo). A similar trend is also seen
among the suba who live next to Tanzania border in Wasimbete ward in Suna
west district (suba west division); they are mostly simbete clans such as Bahiri
Kiberi, Bahiri Ngongo, Nyatego, Mareke, Nchogu etc.
While the sweta such as (Katiga, Kadika, Sio etc) and Wiga who occupy the
areas near Migori town and other urban centers are almost completely
assimilated by the Luo

Assimilation
The assimilation of the suba by the Luo was facilitated by three factors
1. Colonial rulers
White people in Nyanza region had close collaboration with the Luo people
hence they learnt luo language easily and used the educated Luo people and
luo language as a medium of communication with the surrounding
communities. A practice that the Kenyan government continued with after
independence
2. Christian Missionaries
Early Christian missionaries to busuba (suba land) were mostly Luo people
and they used the luo language extensively to spread the gospel.
3. Intermarriage
Marrying Luo women was the final blow to the culture and language of the
suba people since women spoke to their children in their mother tongue (luo)
and raising them according to the luo culture. The end result was a
completely new generation of suba people who spoke Luo fluently, practiced
Luo culture and had Luo names such as Onyango, Omollo, Odongo etc.
The assimilation of Luo was aggressively being executed on three main facets life:
At home
School/Work Place

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Church
Children were being trained by their mothers to look down on the Bantu heritage
and embrace the Luo language and culture that will help them be favored by the
colonial government so asto get jobs from the government. The suba culture was
portrayed as inferior, crude and savage by the Luo women. Many old people
confess that their mothers who were of Nilotic origin could mock when they speak
or behave like Bantus.
Language
The suba language kisuba/ simbiti are similar to other Bantu languages but very
similar to egikurya especially the bukira dialect. The original suba language is
almost extinct and the dialects that closely resembles the original language are
kaksingiri and suba-simbiti dialects
Circumcision
Suba people practice circumcision (saro/nyangi) as a rite of passage for both boys
and girls who are about to reach puberty. The timing was important because of age
group system, norms and safety for the initiates. Young people who have not
engaged in sexual intercourse tended to heal very fast compared to grown up s that
have tough skins and veins. Grownups also tend to have more sexual fantasies
which can seriously delay the healing process and even death if the sexual organs
become aroused causing tear of the healing surgical wounds.
After the saro ceremony, the initiates are now considered part of the community
and can be shown the secrets of their forefathers and rituals to perform to appease
ancestors, spirits and God. The ritual to reveal hidden thing of the abasuba is called
isubo.
Naming the Saro
The initiates are considered to be in the same age group and are given a name to
differentiate them from other age groups and to help them understand the relation
between them and others before them. In my case as a msuba, my age group is
Kitangota Riogi.

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Kitangota is the name of saro while Riogi is the name of the elder who proclaims
the saro season. The elder is different from the traditional surgeon who performs
the circumcision.
Isubo (Revealing saro secrets)
The ceremony conducted to show initiates the secrets of their community and other
top secret stuff is usually done at night. Initiates are organized into groups of 10
boys since the isubo is only done to boys (men) and around midnight, the selected
elders and selected isubo people will start singing and playing strange musical
instruments (some roar like a lion) loudly as their announce their arrival to the
various locations that the initiates (basambaya) are located.
Once they reach each location they perform the ritual, sing and do stuff that should
not be spoken or be heard by a stranger especially umurisia (someone not
circumcised). The story goes that the things seen or heard by the initiates on that
day should not be spoken of strangers, women and children
Subo song
Journey to the cut
Preparing the initiates for saro depends on the family or clan. If the father of an
initiate is an elder or a leader he be lucky to be shown the muguru mwene spear on
the eve of initiation and also given special treatment in preparation for the next day
events.
The basamba are then led on the way home by celebrating relatives and
elders and cannot enter their homes or the initiates hut without elders leading
the way.
Traditions about the cut and initiates
Initiates cannot great people by hand (they are greeted through songs of
praise)
Initiates cannot bath until completely healed and given a name
Initiates eat alone or with small children
Men initiates are not to be seen by women until healed

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Boys initiates carry a stick of a specific tree while girls carry a branch of a
special tree
If the parent of an initiate was not circumcised they cannot see their children
before a ritual in which an animal is slaughtered and the intestines smeared
on their face to help them see their children to prevent calamity befalling the
family
Song and Dance
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Mbegethe
Magorogoro
Sibi
Litungu
Asili

Religion and Prophets

Suna people also had their prophets, seers, medicine men and witch doctors
Prophets like Kiango, Onganyi Nyamachowa, Ngisese, Nyabori, Tharaya,
Nyironge etc.
Customs and traditions
In suba tradition, women are inferior to men though women also occupy a major
role in raising children. By default women are the custodian of children though
boys are supposed to stay clear of women and feminine duties and behaviors after
circumcision.
There are some clans named after women (mothers) and basubati (suba daughters)
who came back from their matrimonial homes.
Cattle keeping
Cattle were considered the real wealth that a suba man can have. Cattle had a
deeper meaning more than just wealth but, also meant having women and children
Funeral and Other rituals
Men buried on the right hand side facing the gate (Ikihitha) while women were
buried on the left side of the hut
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..to be continued

ABAGIRANGO: THE LEOPARD PEOPLE Steve Gaoria